Project BlueSphere

When I was shooting fish last night I got caught in a school of very small jellies, I never laid eyes on them, but boy did they sting. They got my face and left upper side. I sprayed down with vinegar when I got back which helped a bunch. I still have a few red […]

I had a steady 10 knots of breeze form the South West today. I motor sailed for half the day, and sailed the rest. The crossing took about 10 hours. My fishing line got tangled in my prop today and I had to go swimming in the middle of the bay of Panama, I lost […]

Electronics & boats don’t mix. I’m much more careful then most and keep everything electronic (Laptop, camera, video cameras) in Pelican (Water-proof) cases. My trusty Fuji Finepix 4700 took its last photo today. I’ve wanted something different (better) anyway, as I’m submitting pictures to Latitudes & Attitudes. My new laptop (Dell Inspiron E1505) has an […]

I was doing some cleaning yesterday, and for some reason, I read the ingredients of a can of “Treet” baked ham. The first ingredient is mechanically separated chicken, what on earth is that? Do they kill the chickens before they enter “The Machine”? The second thing I noticed is it says “Treet, Virginia baked ham […]

I wish I could write an interesting log every night but sometimes I just don’t have the material. My day was filled with running around. I went to the local fishing shop to buy some more lures, line & weights. I dropped off my outboard at the local Yamaha shop, and went to the Mega […]

I had asked Dan to write a log explaining his experience here on Namaste, he wrote the following. He did in fact help with the dishes though.**********Regrettably I have left Alex and Namaste.  I had a Fantastic week.  It was good toget away, relax and just enjoy the peace and quiet that the ocean has […]

Dan took off this morning he seemed a little bummed which made me happy that he had a good time. We kicked back for most of the trip and only managed to get a picture this morning (I was still asleep) just before he stepped on the shore boat. I wanted to crop myself out […]

Dan and I motored from Isla Contadora yesterday. The day before it rained, torrentially, and it rained for most of our trip to Panama. Last night we went to TGIF’s for dinner and had a few beers at the Balboa Yacht club. The lightning strike did a little more damage then I thought. There is […]

Dan’s a great easy going guy to be around. We’ve been spear fishing every day, eating fish, and talking, been having a few drinks too. It’s nice to have company for a change. For 3 days my SSB didn’t work after the lightning strike, believe it or not it’s come back to life. I think […]

Dan showed up on the one thirty flight from Panama. We immediately took off for Isla Ampon. 3 Whale Sharks approached Namaste (ten yards away), and 4 whales were a few hundred yards off playing and breaching. All was good, we dropped the hook in Isla Ampon around three thirty. Almost immediately a major squall […]

Isla Contadora is a crappy anchorage to say the least. Every night has been rollie, and I´m going to bolt back for Ampon today. Dan is comming on the one thirty flight, then we are off like a shot. I finished all the Mahi Mahi, but shot a good size snapper and grouper this morning. […]

Well I’ve been steadily working on the boat for the last few days. When I ran aground in Isla Linton, 10 or so months ago, the sand took off all of the bottom paint under the keel and the barnacles just grew, Grew, GREW! Yesterday I spend 4 hours snorkeling, scraping barnacles (really tore up […]

I left Isla Ampon around 10 am for Contadora. I was trolling with a small squid lure. At first I caught a beautiful friggite bird, he got caught in my line. I reeled him aboard and he was very nice about letting me free his wing. He hung around for a few 20 minutes or […]

Don took off to another anchorage today. Before he left he gave me a baggie full of fresh scallops, and a really small jig. He said I should fish for the small Jacks that swim around the boat all day, I never thought of eating them. They look like mini tunas, and are under a […]

Man did it rain last night, torrential downpour. My water tanks are full, I did laundry and took a bath in the fresh water from the dingy, it was almost full. Laundry is hanging all over the boat. I’ve been on a movie watching binge. A friend showed up in the anchorage, and we swapped […]

Ha, fool’d Ya! I’m in love with my life. Today is my first day being 41, and I love it! I had a brilliant birthday party on “Contigo” last night. Maggie made a wonderful Trigger-fish dinner, and I had a coconut birthday cake. I also got a nice bottle of rum, and some new books […]

Tomorrow is my birthday, I’m 41, and I’m feeling a bit reflective today. As far as the cruising community goes I’m young, thank God I figured it out early. Looking at my pictures over the past 4 years I haven’t seemed to have aged much; actually I think I look a bit younger & healthier. […]

After dinner on “Plan B” last night I came home and watched Vertical Limit. It was a rollie night and I didn’t sleep well, nightmares too. I hate that. I’ve been a little off all day. Today I cleaned the cockpit and listened to all my U2 CDs, then went spear fishing (saw a nurse […]

My friends Gary & Mavis on “Plan B” showed up this morning. They invited everyone in the anchorage to a coconut rice & Dorado dinner. That includes me, Chris & Maggie on “Contigo”, and Don on “Tamue”. Don’s a cool guy. Don’s famous in these parts because he does the weather forecast (7 days a […]

Today I woke up around 4am and popped my head out of the hatch and saw the southern-cross as usual; I often look for it. I could see some lightning to the east. I don’t know why, but I just woke up in a really good mood today. I cut up a potato and made […]

I finished “Basket Case” today and liked it. I have to be careful about getting into a reading mode because the weeks will fly away and I’ll accomplish nothing, not even spear fishing. I did fix a shelf and scrub the waterline today. If I can knock out 1, or 2 productive jobs a day […]

08 30.522 N 079 01.315W I got some upsetting news yesterday and I had a tuff time sleeping, I didn’t get up till 930. The day turned out pretty well though. Chris came by and we went spear fishing. I spotted two decent size snappers (about 4 to 5 lbs) in a cut in the […]

I ran the motor for 10 hours under load and no problem, even when it got pretty choppy. Maybe I finally have this damn thing licked. I got up and left the Balboa Yacht Club at 5:30 this morning. I didn’t sleep well last night and really wasn’t in the mood to do anything, but […]

Wake me up when July is over; in just another 10 days I’ll be 41. Man these birthdays just keep coming, one after the other, year after year, AHHHHHHH! I decided to spend one more day in Panama to celebrate the 4th of July here at the Yacht Club. They’re doing food, fire works, & […]

In the past 3 week my bank (Washington Mutual) canceled my debit card (due to them changing from a visa to master card logo) and really threw a wrench in my life. My domain name didn’t get paid for, I don’t have access to the very little money that I have, and PayPal has decided […]

I don’t like to admit that I actually have a bilge, but I do. With all the work I’ve been doing on my motor a bit of diesel and oil has found its way to the very darkest of places on Namaste. The sludge is absolutely fowl & nasty, nasty, NASTY!!! My automatic bilge switch […]

Well, what do you know, no FedX today, guess I’m leaving on Tuesday morning, I hope! I don’t know how often Google Earth updates its satellite photos, but that may be me in the yellow star, at the very least that’s the mooring I’m on. I got bored and started painting in the head today. […]

Well my plan is to split for Isla Contodora on Sunday. I’m supposed to get my Fedx tomorrow, and if that’s the case, I’m off like a prom dress. I grabbed this satellite image of Isla Contodora from Google earth, pretty cool eah? I feel like I get weak when I’m in a port like […]

So how has life without Project BlueSphere been? Someone forgot to pay for the domain name; I wonder who that could be? I take no responsibility, because I’m responsibility-phobic : ) Namaste is a mess. I’ve opened the fuel tank and cleaned it out. I spent the day covered in diesel. I need to go […]

Well Sara went home this morning. We had a great time in the Las Pearlas as well as here in Panama city. It’s time for me to focus on Namaste now. I’m going to clean the fuel tank, fix, or replace the fresh water pump, change all the filters, haul her out, paint the bottom, […]

Not only is my fuel tank dirty, my bottom in need of paint, but now I have a hang-over, ARRRGGGGG!!!! Sara and I went out to a casino last night, she left $125.00 up, and I quit after loosing 30, but we had fun and the drinks were free. She is flying out on Thursday […]

IT´S IN THE FUEL SYSTEM!!!!! I motored for 10 hrs today (Glass seas) with out a problem. I got waked by a super-tanker entering the canal and after shaking Namaste up well the motor started to die. The problem is definatly in the fuel system!I´m going to change all the fuel hoses, change all the […]

I´m going back to ¨the big smoke¨(city) in the morning, I really don´t want too but Sis needs some more excitment then spear fishing, and wants to do some shopping. I may do a bottom job at the Balboa Yacht Club, but more likely I´ll rush back and continue fishing in Paradise. I´ll upload a […]

I shot the nicest snapper of my time as the ¨great white hunter¨the other day, we had him for Sushi with my friends on Contigo the oter day. Today I shot a nice, fat, Trigger. I´ll be heading back to Panama with Sis in a few days, She wants do do some shopping & stuff. […]

The last few days my email system has been down. I hope the problem is fixed and I will be able to continue daily logs, I think I got it whipped. The instant message is working; I just haven’t been able to send anything out. We moved the boat to Isla Ampon, it’s really beautiful […]

New Location: 08 30.513 N 079 01.673 W My Sister got in on friday with no problems. It’s funny how much she still looks like the last time I saw her when she was around 11. We took off to Isla Ampon and met up with my friends on “Contigo”. Whe had drinks with them […]

I heard an interesting line in a song, it’s had me preoccupied: “Sheep go to heaven, goats go to hell” Is that really true? I think I’m a goat! Another line in the same song: “As soon as you’re borne you start dying, so you might as well have a good time” I think the […]

That lightning that was coming was a long line of squalls. It rained all through the night and till about 15:00 the next day. I drank lots of tea, and started John Grisham’s “The Street Lawyer” yesterday morning, almost finished it, I’ll have it wrapped up by mid day. I few days ago I went […]

If you’ve been reading my logs long enough you’ll know I get like this every once and a while. I’m sitting on the bow with my back propped up against my drifter (Large sail in a bag), the sky is full of stars, and I can see flashes of lightning just a few miles away […]

I was just looking at my schedule and I can squeeze in a charter between July 7th – the 14th (my birthday), if anyone is interested. As I said in an earlier log, I’m booked July 21st – 28th, and August 5th – to the 13th. And my buddy is coming the last week of […]

I’ve been trying to post a log with pictures for a few days. That tropical wave knocked out the internet on the island, and I can’t upload pictures. All has been pretty good. I’m having problems with my fresh water pump, but I think I fixed it. I bought some sausages yesterday, and fried them […]

A tropical wave blasted through last night and my anchor drug, very unusual for me, I got 40 feet from the rocks! The wind was around 25-30 (not so bad) but the current set Namaste conflicting the wind, and the roll was horrible. I much would rather have been at sea so I could balance […]

How can my bread suck so badly now? When I was in the San Blas I was making the best bread known to man, and without an oven on my stove top. Now, what I produce is absolutely un-eatable, even the fish won’t eat it when I throw it overboard. My French friends gave me […]

I got up pretty early and went spear fishing. I found a nice reef on the Southern end of Contodora where I shot a 2 nice groupers. I BBQ’d one for lunch, and fried the other with garlic & onions for dinner, this fishing thing in the Pacific is really working for me. When I […]

Okay, enough with the hate mail, here are some pictures, just kidding  : ) I’ve gotten a lot of emails requesting pictures. It will be easier when I get my new computer, but remember, I can only email pictures when I get to an internet connection. It’s too expensive for me to email pictures through […]

South Side of Contodora N 08 37.344 W 079 02.111 It got windy (20 kts) from the north yesterday, and that was no good for me so I motored (20 mins) to the southern shore of Contodora. I was sitting in the cockpit last night and noticed some large fish swimming around Namaste, obviously attracted […]

Liberty & Genesis took off early for espiritu santo. Supposedly the nicest anchorage in the Pearlas. I didn’t go for a number of reasons. I’d like to do some exploring with my sister and see it for the first time together, I think it will be more fun for us, and secondly I wanted to […]

A low-pressure system developed in the area and it’s been quite grey & rainy with a touch of lightening, I love days like this, I caught a bunch of water and scrubbed the decks with fresh water. Aki got up earlier then me (to much sake last night) and went spear fishing on his own […]

Ahhhhhhh, another wonderful day. I went spear fishing today, and shot a good size jack, at the very last second, as I was hauling him in the dingie, he got away. I’m out of practice. Not to mention a bit sun burned. I can see my friends Aki on “liberty”, and Ollie on “Genesis” on […]

Ahhhhhhh, another wonderful day. I went spear fishing today, and shot a good size jack, at the very last second, as I was hauling him in the dingie, he got away. I’m out of practice. Not to mention a bit sun burned. I can see my friends Aki on “liberty”, and Ollie on “Genesis” on […]

Today was a good day. I got on the SSB net this morning with s cup of tea, and said hello to some friends. Propagation was even good enough I spoke to some friends in the San Blas. I cleaned most of the bottom this morning, I really, REALLY need a new bottom job (Anti-fowling […]

Location: Isla Contodora (North Anchorage) 08 38.053 N 79 02.232 W It’s been a while that Namaste & I sat in Paradise. When was it last, Isla Linton in the Caribbean? The water is clear here, the islands are beautiful, but very different then the San Blas. There are coconut palms of course, but the […]

Well today I’m going to the mall to see a movie. After that I’m going to the Japanese market to pick up a few things, pay my bill here at the club, and ready the boat. I’ll probably take off for the Las Pearlas around 3-4 am. My sister (Sara) is coming to visit me […]

All is well at the Balboa Yacht Club. I’m doing a 5k walk in the morning sponsored by the UN for world hunger, seems like a good idea, and my hand is healing up well. The batteries that I bought 4 months ago were bad. After charging them fully and checking them with a hydrometer […]

I now know one of the reasons why the sailing Gods didn’t want me to cross the Pacific this year. The La Playeta anchorage is a safe anchorage most of the year with the exception of the rainy season in a Southerly Swell & wind. Well night before last it really started to blow, and […]

I really slashed my hand open today (on a hose clamp) working in the engine room. I found an octapus in the strainer, a small fish in my sea-water intake, and a clump of silacone in the cooling water line, dont ask me how that got there. I aso ran some muratic acid through the […]

Sorry I´ve been out of touch, but when I´m covered in motor oil and parts are all over the boat, I get kind of anti-social :( I got the motor running, it seems okay, but I want to take it out and subject it to a constant load to see if it over heats. I´m […]

I´ve been into the reading mood for a few days and knocked out a few paper- backs. I had 6, 5 gallon containers of diesel lashed on deck which I sold today, I´ll try to keep the jugs at a buddys house, so I can use them next season. I have 2 charters in the […]

Well things are looking up. I have one charter sold (Jeff), and it’s looking like 2 others (Mike & Buddy). It looks like I’ll be chartering in the Las Pearlas this summer to pay for the motor. That doesn’t sound so bad (Sailing, diving, spear-fishing and bond fires), things could be worse, eah? On the […]

As most of you know my trip across the Pacific was abruptly cut short by a serious engine failure. My old motor is pretty worn out. Sea water is in the oil, and diesel in the exhaust water. One cylinder runs extremely hot (taking the entire load), and water is not pumping through the cooling […]

I tried to take the oil out of my motor this morning, and the pump wouldn’t handle it. There seems to be a gelatinous sludge in it, what the hell is that all about? I’m waiting to hear back from Volvo, fingers crossed. I bought a phone today; if anyone wants to chat my incoming […]

I hate it when people feel sorry for themselves; sorry I had to expose you to it. I think I’m loosing a little elasticity in my bullet-proof attitude with age. Ten years ago this wouldn’t have fazed me. I watched my own video last night, something I haven’t seen for about a year. It really […]

Do you remember the show “Survivor”? They asked the question “If you were to bring one thing to a deserted island, what would it be”? Many people said “a pocket knife”, or, “a lighter”. I swore I’d show up with empty pockets and say “I brought a good attitude” and smile from ear to ear. […]

I pulled up the anchor this morning at 5:45 am, and left for the Pearlas Islands, only a 35 mile trip. There was no wind, and I wanted to charge the batteries, so I powered along for a few hours, and the motor quit. Where did the oil go? I’m 12 miles from the Pearlas […]

The ITCZ (Doldrums) have moved quite north. Many squalls last night, and not as much sleep. I spoke to the local weather man on the SSB this morning. He sez “hang tight for a few days. There is a lot of convective activity (Lightning & Squalls) between 8, and 5 degrees north (The ITCZ)”. I’ll […]

Time: 22:04 Zulu Position: N 08 47.914 W 79 33.192 Location: Isla Taboga I heaved the anchor this morning and was under way by 07:30. I had a lovely sail and decided to stop at Isla Taboga to decompress for a day or two. I might take off for the Perlas in the morning, or […]

I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t have my doubts. Is my motor okay (30 years old)? Am I a good enough sailor? Do I have enough money ($645.00)? Do I have enough food? Will the sea swallow me and my tiny ship whole? I have excitement and I have fear, but most […]

Well I did something fun last night. I got drunk with someone who is partly responsible for me being here. Annie Hill wrote “Voyaging on a small income” which was a very inspiring book for me. I highly recommend it to anyone who is planning on cruising no mater what your income is. It was […]

Sailors often trade things. Today was a good trading day for me. I met a single-hander (Derik on Alaki) a few days ago. Derik helped me find my anchor the other day. We dragged the bottom of the anchorage with a grappling hook until we caught my chain, I’m very pleased to have my chain […]

I spent the day tuning my rig and got a little sun burned. It’s easy to do here. I get the results of all my tests on Monday, and my plan is to check-out on Tuesday/Wednesday. I’m going to either sail for the Perlas Islands or Isla Taboga. I want to spend a day or […]

Does good luck come with bad? This is my 2nd post today. I got my package this morning : ) I had a doctor’s appointment early in the day. When I got back to Namaste I started installing my new voltage regulator. When I was in the engine room I heard surf, which was kind […]

Guess who got a package they were waiting for? No, not Norman Rockwell…., no not former president Clinton. I DID!!!!!! It only took a month. I made an appointment to see a doctor today and get a physical before I go, a good idea at 40 I think. I´ll be out of here in 5, […]

As most of you have surmised I’ve been a bit off lately.                                                                                                               I kind of hit a mental wall and just sort of shut down. My limp nodes swelled up a few days ago, and I decided it was time for a break. No more thinking of “what’s her name” getting married tomorrow, and […]

Time is a funny thing, especially for one who tries to control it. Unfortunately we all try to control time. I know it’s a fruitless effort for me to try and shape my expectations, why do I continue to do it? I’ve really been bitching about my time here in Panama, waiting…, waiting for this […]

Maybe waiting anoter week isint so bad. I have been listining to other boats on the SSB between here and the Galapagos, and there is just no wind. My friends on ¨Monkey´s Business¨left for Easter Island this morning, we are planning on hooking up around Tahiti. I got my canvis back, and I´m currently looking […]

I´ve been stressing about my new battery system for 6-8 weeks now. 3 months ago I put in 4 new t-105,6v batteries.At some point they kind of died on me. After I installed the batteries I installed 3 solar panels, a charge controller, rewired the engine instruments, yadda, yadda, yadda. Where did the problem lay?????? […]

I´ve dug myself in a hole. I have a gremlin in my battery system and have been pulling all my wiring apart. I had my alternator rebuilt today and replaced it but no help, I cant figure it out. My system just dosent want to take the amps, I´ll dig further tomorrow. I had a […]

I got some pretty bad news. A package that was shipped to me here went out regular U.S. mail. I have friends here that have been waiting 3 months for a USPS Package, and others who have never recieved their packages at all. Unfortunatly it had about 2k of my stuff in it, and my […]

More shopping today, I spent $100 at Mega Depot which is like a costco. I also bought 20 bags of TVP (Textured Vegitable Protein), it´s really good suff to sub for meat. It´s really good in pasta sauce, and ramen. I uploaded some cool pictures to the photo gallery of the Panama canal, check´m out!!! […]

I’m getting bored. I went out dancing with friends the other night and didn’t get home till 8:30 in the morning; I was 3 sheets to the wind for sure. The clubs here don’t close till everyone leaves no one left. I was surprised to see the sun when we opened the door, I slept […]

Hi all, I´m still anchored in La Playeta. The water is very cold as the Humbolt current has decided to visit. I´m spending each day cleaning, fixing, and stowing. I´m still waiting for a bunch of stuff from the states, so at this point it´s a waiting game. Mentally, I´m ready to go. I still […]

Namaste is as Phat as she´s ever been! She is carrying 107 gallons of fuel ($207 at the fuel dock today, OUTCH!!!), along with 90 gallons of water. I still need to put another 100 or so pounds of food on board. I left the Balboa Yacht club today, another $200, what was I thinking? […]

God I wish I could take off tomorrow. I’m waiting on stuff from the states. I have a laptop comming, regulator for the alternator, my EPIRB is comming back from the shop along with my backup GPS. I’m guessing it will still take me 2 weeks to get my ship together :) I’m working on […]

So I have made this huge list of everyting I want to do before I leave in a few weeks and I just realized it will never happen. Ive started really slashing the list. I need a new starting battery, mine is toast, but you know what, I never use it. I{ll pull the battery […]

Wow, Panama is really a beautiful country. Steve rented a car and we did a road trip. We put 1000 miles on it in 4 days. We drove up to David on the Pacific coast, then crossed the mountains through Boquette (cool Volcanio), to Bocus del Toro on the Atlantic side where we did some […]

My Cousin is here, and we decided to rent a car and see the country. I will not have access to the net for 3 or so days. I{ll post alot of pictures when I return. I LOVE THE PACIFIC. Peace, Love, and Coconuts. Alex

Well, I did it. I´m through the canal and Namaste is moored at the Balboa Yacht Club in Panama City. Yesterday morning we all went swimming with the sunrise before the pilot showed up. You know my motor has run fine for 5 years and never had a hicup. Well yesterday morning I was pushing […]

Alex asked me to post a ships log for today since he is still in transit. I spoke with Alex several times this evening and all has gone very well. They made it through the final lock at Gatun around 19:40 Central Time. After the last lock, they were moving toward an overnight anchorage in […]

This will be my last log update from the carribean. The pilot will board namaste tonight around 17:00 and I will uplock the first 3 locks of the Panama Canal. I will spend the night anchored in the lake with my 4 line handlers and cross Panama in the morning and down lock 3 locks […]

I´ve kind of been down the past few weeks. I feel like there is this big black cloud overhead. It started in portobello with my outboard being stolen, then a few days ago my laptop died for the last time, it´s shot. 2 days ago i decided to dig into my motor and thourally go […]

Colon really bites! There is a garbage burning plant a quarter mile away and Namaste is covered in black soot, we are just down wind. I got the tires on Namaste today and I’m thinking of adding two more. I also got an official Panama Canal Ships registration number and card that is posted at […]

Sorry for the late update. I’m installing a Tropikool refrigeration system which is utterly fantastic! It’s only drawing about 20-25 amp hours a day, it’s quiet, and incredibly efficient, just what I want. Installation was a snap to boot. If you’re looking for a new system for your boat this is it, it is the […]

Hi everyone. I sailed into Colon Panama yesterday. Motoring into the breakwall was an experance to say the least. Talk about super tanker traffic. I dodged huge ships on my little Namaste. I made it to the anchorage by the Panama Canal Yacht Club, and spent the night. Today I started my canal paperwork, I […]

The Isthmus of Panama. I feel like I’ve started my trip across the Pacific. I’m in new water and exploring once again. I’ve been in the Colombia, San Blas, and Isla Granda area for a while now, and it’s time to start changing scenery. I’m in the Isthmus of Panama, and anchored off the historical […]

It seems like the harder I work the farther behind I get. Today my ignition went on the blink. I’m going to replace it with a button and do away with the whole key thing. My Yamaha 4hp outboard also quit today, its leaking fuel from the water intake. I’ll have to put in a […]

When I installed my water maker last year, I remember reading somewhere that you have to take vitamin supplements if you live on water maker water. The water maker does not let any minerals pass through the membrane as well as salt. I went to the doctor a few weeks ago because I was feeling […]

I will sail my small boat across the largest ocean in the world this year! Happy New Year. – A

The week has been hectic…, projects, projects, and more projects. You know what they say the definition of cruising is? Fixing your boat in exotic locations, it’s pretty true. I’ve got 4 new Trojan T-105 batteries installed. The batteries were about $400.00, with another $100.00 in cabling. Wow what a difference in power! I’ve also […]

Happy Holidays everybody. I just got back to Panama this morning. The sail from Cancun to Fort Myers was a bit tough. We had 30-35 Kts of wind most of the way and used a 3rd reef for much of the trip. Much of Cancun is still wiped out from the hurricane, it´s really sad. […]

Well I got the gig sailing to Florida from Cancun Mexico. I’m flying to Cancun on thursday, and sailing a 39′ Mariner (Lasirena) to Ft Myers Florida. I think I’ll spend a few days in Florida and visit a West Marine before flying back to Panama. Lupe is flying back to Venezula on thursday as […]